Drain fitting for oil well tubing



Sept 3, 1957 E. J. MuLLlNs 2,804,829

DRAIN FITTING FOR oIL NELL TUBING Filed Nov. 9, 1953 JMJ'- l United States Patent yC) DRAIN FITTING FOR OIL WELL TUBING Edward J. Mullins, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application November 9, 1953, Serial No. 390,936

4 Claims. (Cl. 103-179) This invention relates to a drain fitting whereby the tubing in an oil well may be drained of its oil content before the tubing is removed from the well as when the pump is being replaced or for other purposes.

In an oil well the oil is conducted to the surface through the tubing and it is very advisable to drain the tubing of its oil prior to the removal .of the tubing from the well so that oil may not be spilled on the lioor of the derrick, thus causing a fire hazard.

An object of my invention is lto provide a novel drain tting of the character stated, which may be quickly and easily mounted between the barrel of the pump :and the tubing, and which may be actuated -to drain the tubing by lifting the tubing a short distance.

Another object of my invention is to provide fa means whereby the attaching collar which screws .on tothe pump barrel and the perforated inner sleeve may be releasably coupled for the purpose of screwing or unscrewing the collar while the pump is in the well.

Still `another object of my invention is to provide a novel drain fitting of the character stated, which is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and effective in operation.

Other objects, advantages `and features of invention may appear from the accompanying drawing, the subjoined detailed description and the appended claims.

In the drawing- Figure l is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional View of a pump with my drain fitting mounted thereon, parts of the drain fitting being broken away to show interior construction.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal view of the drain tting.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3 3 of Figure 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral 1 indicates the barrel of -an `oil well pump, which is normally stationary in the well, and the reciprocating piston is connected at 2. The construction of the pump barrel 1 and the piston 2 is usual :and well known in the art and the detailed construction of these parts form no part of the invention herein.

The upper end of the pump barrel 1 is threaded, as shown at 3. A collar or coupling 4 screw on to the upper end of the pump barrel 1, substantially as shown. This collar is here shown as being formed of two complementary parts, however, it may be formed of one integral piece, if desired, and if `a proper assembly is possible in that way.

A sleeve 5 extends into the collar 4 and this sleeve is formed with a ring seat 6. This ring seat rests on the tapered seat 7, which is formed on the upper end of the collar 4. A stop ring 8 is formed on the lower end of the sleeve 5 rand this ring acts as a stop in the raised position of lthe sleeve, `as will be further described.

A pin 9 projects inwardly from the inner surface of the coupling 4 and the ring 8 will engage this pin, thus acting as a stop to prevent the sleeve 5 from being pulled out of the coupling 4. A notch 10 in the ring 8 may receive the pin 9 when the ring is properly rotated, and when Vso coupled the coupling can be rotated upon rotation of the tubing 11 to which the sleeve 5 is attached. The sleeve 5 screws into the bottom of the tubing 11 and, therefore, either rotation or longitudinal movement of the tubing will be transmitted to the sleeve 5. Sucker rods 12 `are threaded into the piston 2 for the purpose of reciprocating this piston, all of which is usual and well known in the art.

The space 13 between the ri'ng seat 6 and the ring 8 is formed with a plurality of drain holes 14 through which oil is drained when the sleeve 5 is moved upwardly to move the ring seat 6 :above the seat 7.

In operation- The coupling or collar 4 is threaded on to .the top of the pump barrel 1 and the sleeve 5 is threaded into the bottom stand of the tubing 11. The assembly is then lowered into the oil well in the usual and well known manner. The ring 8 Iengages the pin 9 :and thus will carry the weight of the pump and will also prevent the pump from dropping oli of the sleeve S. The pump is anchored -at the bottom of the well in the usual and well known manner and the tubing 11 is lowered until the ring seat 6 rests on the seat 7, thus sealing the sleeve 5 against the coupling 4 and preventing leakage at this point.

If it is desired to remove the pump, the tubing l1 is first raised upwardly a short distance thus uncovering the holes 14 and the column of oil in the tubing will drain out through these holes. If it is necessary to either screw or unscrew the coupling 4 on the pump barrel 1, this can be accomplished by fitting the notch 10 on to the pin 9, thus connecting tzhe tubing 11, the sleeve 5, and the coupling 4.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In an oil well including ya string of tubing extending into the oil well, a pump barrel, mea-ns mounting said pump barrel to the lower end of said tubing, said means consisting of a coupling, means -mounting the coupling on the upper end of the pump barrel, a sleeve, means mounting said sleeve on the lower end of the tubing, said sleeve extending into the coupling and having a limited longitudinal movement therein, valve means on the sleeve engaging the coupling in the lowered position of the sleeve, said sleeve having drain holes therein below said valve means, an inwardly projecting stop pin on the coupling, and means on the sleeve engageable by the stop pin to limit upward movement of the sleeve.

2. In an oil well including a string of tubing extending into the .oil well, a pump barrel, means mounting said pump barrel to the lower end of said tubing, said means consisting of a coupling, means mounting the coupling on the upper end of the pump barrel, `a sleeve, means mounting said sleeve on the lower end of the tubing, said sleeve extending into the coupling and having a limited longitudinal movement Itherein, valve means on the :sleeve engaging the coupling in the lowered position of the sleeve, said sleeve having drain holes therein below said valve means, an inwardly projecting stop pin on the coupling, :a projecting ring on the lower end of said sleeve, said ring having a notch therein to receive said pin in one position 0f said sleeve.

3. In an oil well including :a string of tubing extending into the oil well, a pump barrel, means mounting said pump barrel to the lower end .of said tubing, said means consisting of a coupling, means mounting the coupling on the upper end of the pump barrel, a sleeve, means mounting the sleeve on the lower end of the tubing, said sleeve extending into the coupling and having "a limited longitudinal movement therein, .a ring seat :on said sleeve, said ring seat seating on the upper end of the coupling in one 2,804,829 v Y, ,i

position of the sleeve, said sleeve having drain holes therein below the ring seat, an inwardly projecting stop pin on the coupling, an outwardlykprojecting stop ring on the lower end of the sleeve, said stop ring engaging the pin to limit upwardmovement of the sleeve relative to, th coupling.

4. In an oil Well including a string of tubing extending into the oil well, a pump barrel, means mounting said pump barrel to the lower end of said tubing, said means consisting of a coupling, means mounting the coupling on the upper end of the pump barrel, a sleeve,` means mounting the sleeve on the lower end of the tubing, said sleeve extending into the coupling and having a` limited longitudinal movement therein, a ring seat on said sleeve, said ring seat seating on the upper end of the coupling in one position of the sleeve, said sleeve having drain lholes 4 therein below'the ring seat, an inwardly projecting stop pin on the coupling, an outwardly projecting stop ring on the lower end of the sleeve, said stop ring engaging the pin to limit upward movement of the sleeve relative to the coupling, said stop ring having a notch therein to receive said pin in one position of the sleeve.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 249,228 Dower Nov, 8, 1881 794,104 Huber ..V July 4, 1905 1,601,676 Burright Sept. 28, 1926 1,696,492 Langherst Dec. 25, 1928 2,311,212 Coberly Feb. 16, 1943 

